FEHB and FEDVIP Decisions Are Independent

In both FEHB and FEDVIP, if an enrollee makes no changes in the open season starting November 14, a current enrollment will continue next year, subject to any coverage and cost changes. Many enrollees view the two programs as a set—some even apparently believe FEDVIP is an option within FEHB—in part because enrollment options are the same, eligibility rules are largely the same, and some carriers participate in both. However, they operate independently. There is no requirement to enroll in one to be eligible for the other, and for those in both, enrollment choices can differ. Where a carrier participates in both, there is no requirement that an enrollee who chooses that carrier in one program must use that same carrier for the other. Also, there is no requirement to have the same type of enrollment in both—an enrollee could have a self-only enrollment in one but a self-and-family enrollment in the other, for example. Similarly, within FEDVIP, there is no requirement to have both vision and dental coverage and no requirement to use the same carrier for those who have both—several carriers offer plans in each. Also, there are some differences regarding eligibility to note. In the FEHB, eligibility for non-disabled children cuts off at age 26 while in FEDVIP it stops at age 22 and children further must be unmarried and financially dependent on the enrollee. Also, in the FEHB a retiree generally must remain continuously enrolled to remain eligible while there is no such restriction in FEDVIP.